Hopper car.



`P. M. BEARD.

HOPPER GAR.

ON FILED APR. 15, 1912.

APPLIGATI Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

03009 DOYCQDIOOOCQ` MTA/5555 @3% P. M. BBARD.

HOPPER GAR. APPLLCATIH FILED APR.15, 1912.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

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P. M. BEARD.v

HOPPBR GAR.

. APPLICATION FILED APR. 15, 1912. 1,109,609.

Patented Sept. 1, 1914 4 SHBETS-SHBBT3- mns. me uma.. mwnmw. n, c.

12M. BEARD. HOPPER CAR. 4 APPLICATION FILED APR.15, 1912. I 1,1 09,609. Patented Sept. 1, 1914.

4 SHBBTS-SHEET 4. 23

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. cnr of the ty UMTED nur. n. anaanpr sr. 1.oo1s,' 1 nssoem, assmaoa'roaasmcas y conrAin,.oir sr. Louis,- inssoUaI, a'conrom'rroiv or nizw maaar.

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Be it known tiat I, VPAUL M. Bassins lpeoiiloation ot Letters ratent.-

Application tiled lApril 15,1912. Serial No. 691,051;

Patented sept. 1, 1914.

a car of inazfiin'um carrying.capacity; second, to rovide a-'inaximuni door opening citizen of the United States,'residing at Stiuid thir ,to arrange a low center of gravity.

iuis, Missouri, have invented .a certain new und useful Improvement iu Hopper-Cars, of which the following is u full, clear, and exact description, suoli as will enable others skilled `in the art to which it apv rtains to make and use the sume, reeience eilig lind to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a hopper car of my, im rovedconstruction wit the left hand end t ereof shown in vertica section. The sectional portion of' this view is taken on a vertical line at the exact longitudinal center line of the car and at the division line between the two' parts pf the sloping end sheet'. Fig. 2 is 'a plan view of my improved cail with parts thereof in horizontal section; Fig. 3 is an' end elevation of the car. Fig. si is an enlarged vertical section taken-approximatel on the line -i4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an en arged detail section taken approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is au enlarged detail section taken a proximately on the line 6--6 of Fig: 1. iig. 7 is an.enla ed cross sectional vieiv taken approximatey on the line 7--7 of I 2, i.

'lhis inve tion relates glenerally to railway care, am more particu arly to a hopper .utilized for the trans ortation of oie, a though cars of pnriictical y the sa'me construction can be a vanta ously utilized in the transportation of coa coke, grafvel and the like.,

The principal object of my invention is to provide a hoppei` car especially adapted for use in the trans ortation of oregnd constructed to meet t e 'requirements and conditions im' sed by the orecarrying service.

` The con it'ons at the o're 'docks are such that n lcalhe great'deaideratiiiiihere'tofore -iahoprestrictions in length, width, -c'ar lcapacity and size of door openings must necessarily be placed upo'n the various car parts of the' equi ent used, and the nature of the materia to be 'transported .is such that the sides 'and e 'ds'of :the hopper cars must .be arrange so as to permit :ready discharge and,

im soustraction within iheiimi tions "is l ""Miotiq profis.

.i whenv 'said I accomplish tlie rst and second of these obJccts by lengthening the hopper, but to maintain the proper slope on the end sheets,

tendthe sloping end sheets oithe hopper to a suitable point between the trucks, thereby' permitting the door opening to be lengtheued proportionately as the length of the hopper` was increased. The attainment of the third ob'ect is the direct result of the extension of t Yeend hopper sheets toa point as low as conditions'permit in order to carry a lnrgepe'rcenta of the lading below the supporting mem ers ofthe car.

n my improved car there is no fixed bottom member, but tlie doors which are hinged to the lower portions of the side girders form the -li'ittom ofhtlie car when said doors are c losed,. and when the same are open, the entire s'nce between the lower portions of the si e girders and the lower ends of the sloping end sheets-is ,free and unobstructed so as to permit the ready discharge of the ctntents' of the car. In order to close the large openin resulting from the arrangement just described, it is necessary to provide doors and to arrange the saine upon the cnr so that the advanta es ofthe particular hop er construction s ould be in no wise sacri ced, but, on

4the other' hand, fuliilled'in every respect e open spncebetween the e ges of the doors andthe' ed s Iof the sloping end sheets 'are closed by suitable-load-retaining means extending therebetween, preferaby plates attached to and movable with the 'ltheilower edges of the slopin end sheets.

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cors, but' it'will be readily understood' tiiat any .suitable load-retaining means may' be 'utilized and attached to anypart ofthe ear provi-ded -it closes .theopening between the 'edges of the-doors and the sloping end sheets doors ai'eclosed. A; further object'. of my,l invention s'ito bersare in them-miti 'e'i'nasmucli as a vvvideopening over'-- veo holsters 1, thereby forming a rectan comes any tendency ofthe load to arch or clog dui-ing the dumping ordischarging operation'. i ,To'the above 'purposes my invention consiste incertain novel features of construction' and arrangement of pai-ts hereinafter more fully described and claimeh' l e Referring by numerals to the acooiii anydrawings; 1 designates the bod bo sters 'o' jmy improved'car, the same ing of' snysuitab e construction, and lfixed to and eilttajmdiig inwardly from said body bolsters 'arerdrs sills 2, preferably in the form of channels.

The side girders,"which form the principal loadcarryingmembers of my improved car. are-each" composed of a base vmember orliotto'n chord 4, referably a channel, a top I ber'or chor 5, preferably a Z-bar, an lrfplate 6 and an inner plate or sheet 7. parts, when roperly assembled and 'form a ho ow` structure of greit, si g'fh and load-carrying ca acity, and t I'various members or parts" ormin` the girder are continuous 'from one end o the' gi'rder t the other. The u peredge of the outer; 'plate 6 is attach referably 'by' ea'ns of rivets to the depen in 'e Z-bar 5, and the lower edge o said plate Gis attached referably by meansof rivets to' the outer ange of the channel 4;' The lower edge of the inner'sheet or plate 7 is attached directly to the inner flange ofthe channel 4 and the upper edge of said sheet- .7' is attached vdirectlyto the verticllv disosedfiangeon the inner edge of the Z' )ar The bottom chord of the side girder or the channel 4`is'preferably wider than the 2bar 5 formingthe upper chord, and' thus the inner sheet or plate 7 is slightly inclined with its lower edge inside the vertical plane occupied by its upper edge.

Flanged diaphragms 8 are located at siiit able distances apart ivithin the hollow `rder, said dia7phragms being fixed to .the s eets 6 and in any suitable nianner i preferably by means of rivets. The ends of. the girders thus formed rest directly upon and are fixed to the end portions of. the lar frame that supports the entire weig t of .thegcar body andl its load. Positioned on' top of the side girders are the upper aide' .portions of thel slope .0

downwa ivalls 9. tliej'lo'vver edges 4 of-'ivliich are bent inwardlyglas'designated by 10, and the extreme lower edges-of said Walls overlie and are fxed 5to `the' upper --edges of the plates Brackets 11.'ai'e fixed. to and rest upon thefZfl-iars` 5'. and the upper portions of these. brackets are fixed to the inwardly bent .portions 10 of the 'side vvalls, thus forming Isu ports tlierefon The side wall '9 is foi-nie of'a pair of. plates or sheets, and fixed to the edges of thevadjacent ends on the outsideis a vertically disposed plate 1:2.' `Fixed `to the coi-responding edges on the inner side 'of these plates -isa vertically disposed platel provided ivith a centrally disposed rib 14, thereby forming a strengthening member or stake for the central portion of the side wall. y

The inclined' ends of lthe car are each foi-ined of a pair of slope sheets' 15, the same occu ying a plane at an angle of approximate y 40 degrees relative to a vertical plane. The outer edges of these slope sheets are curved slightly, as designated by 16,- and the ends of said curved portions' are riveted directly to 'the' corresponding sheets-or plates forming the side walls. The meeting edges of the slope sheets at the center of thev car are fla outwardly, as designated by 1'7, Aand united by means of rivets or llike fastening devices. The lower sheets extend a substantial distance be iv the plane occupied b v the side girders, as designated by 18 and the extreme lower ed es 'are bent to form a vertically disposed ange 18. Fixed to the rear side of the fiange 18 on the out- .:iede thereof is a flanged reinforcing meinr 19.` j By referring to Fig 1 it will'be noted that the. ower rtions o vthe slope sheets extend over the inner wheels of the trucks as nearto the same as is consistent,

`and by such construction, andI the arrangement of the doors hereinafter described,

space within the body of the car is materially increased, thereby increasing thecarrying capacity ofthe car and lowering the 1'center of dgravit'y. Resting u on and xedto the en rtions of the Z- ars 5 are triangular brac `ets 20, and fixed thereto in-aiiy suitable. manner, are the' ends of transversely disposed. slope', sheet supporting. members, preferably in the 'form ofchannels 21, the same extending entirely across the carbody 'with' their to anges bearing directly against the un ersides of the slope sheets 15. The anges'lare cutl awa to accommodatethe upper portions of t es e transverse supporting members. To reinforce yand strengthen the construction at pointsvirhere said flanges are' cut away,'triangular plates 22 are positioned between -the webs 01.15112 channels 21 and p'ortionaof'x-th'e fianges V17 ends of the izo BST AVAlLABLE massed". c l

' per edgee of the side walls Qandrthe upper edgesi of the slope sheets 15v are'surmonted byangles 23 which materially the upper ed of said walls andfend nb besides 'formm a nish'thereor. --The corners between t e upper ends of the'slo sheets and the 'side walls are reinforced y gusset plates'tt The openin in the bottom of the ca'r thus constructe is .normally closed bv n pnir of doors 25, the outer edges of which are in any suitable manner to the undemdes of the hollow girdcrs. These doors are fixed .to the undersides of the ends thereof are vertically disposed webs or danges 26 which occupy positions immediately adjacent to theanges 18* on the lower ends of the slope sheets 15. Fixed to the lower edges ofthe webs or plates 26 ure outwardly projecting plates 27, the outer edges 4o! which are bent upward, as designated by, and when the doorsare closed these outwardly projecting lates occu y positions immediately -honest the rein orced lower edges 181 of' the slope sheets, as eeen in Figff' Bylthis construe. tion, when the car u in use the finer particles of the load sift into the spnce'between the lower edges of the danger. 18.

of the slope sheets and the corresponding portions of the webs or plates-26, thereby forming a packing to revent the constant loss of the tine v'irtic es of the load while the cur is in transit. The plates forming the. dtors 25 nre reinforced on their under- -ide.s, refer-ably b v means oflongitudinally extenf ing members in the form of angles or I-beams.

The doors of my im roved car can be quipped with nny well nown form of opvruxmg mechanism. but I prefer 'to utilize an o @rating mechanism that includes a winding shaft 29 that is arranged in suituble bearings beneath one of the side girdcrs. a pnir of transversely disposed levers 30. winding chains or cables lbetween the shaft 29 and the levers and hooks B2 carried by the ends of the levers 30, which hooks are adapted to engage over the windim;l shaft to hold the doors in closed position.

I B v constructing a hopper car as herein ,shown und described practically the entire weight of the load is carried by tbehollo Vside girdcrs. and by forming said girde cmupnrutively narrow in width and arrang -inglr them nt the sides of the'car. an exfarovided, andrremcly wide door opening is for this reason, the load wil readily disrluu'ge without arching 4or clogging, which 'ter effect occurs where e comparatively i u'row door opening is formed.

srefehbly formed of sheet metal plates, an

nired slope of endsheetsdor'theresdy disc arge-of the gilding, the of the sldpc she'etef downwardly-below the' plane occupied by the side girdorsant the proximityofthe-hopifo itfqwf'the track are materie'ldlctm'-gf` ringing abouta comparatively'jow center 'of gravity of a loaded 'carg'lnd thh feature s especially desirable inicifre'litilid for 1trans tting hesiy loads.

'Ittw lil-be'4 a d itxic t'matter to shape door pl e toffthe'fcontourof the edges of -the sloping end sheets, and, at the same time uiaintam sulcient-room-*under the doors to accommodst'eithe ncceary bracing and o retin mechanism therefor, and the slo e n 'the` oon-,plates iti-fopen position wou d not besulisibnt' to quickly discharge the lad- Vith the' doorplates shaped as above outlined it wonldjbe necessilry to raise the hopper o ning and decrease the slope of the end s ets m ordei-to increase the slope of the door plates to an inciin'ation corres ondingto the required slope of' said end s eets. Therefore, to 'give the' proper slope to the doors when in-open position, and to maintain the necessary slope in the end sheets. the doors are 'clevated-and hin u in a plane. above thelower edges of e. sloping end sheets.- Such arran ment necessarily causes a spa be form between the ends of the door ahd the lower edges ofthe slo ing end sheets, und this spaceV orfga'p is osed b v means of the lates or webl-26 vextending between the en s of thddoors -and' the lower edges ofthe slope sheets. The "side walls 9 merely form retainers for tbe upper portion of the load, and any portion of the weight' of the loedwhich msyfbear upon said side wall); isin turn trnnsmitted to the hollow sido gi 'The' trimsversely disposed chann'clsl lform ample lsupports for that portion of the load ahme;the upper portions of said slope sheets,` and it is therefore minecessary to provide vertically disposed supports between the body bolsters'and the upper ends of the slbpe sheets. The'- drlft sills 2 nre connected: directl'yvto' the\bolsters 1` and ns the hollow airdersrcft upon and are lli) directlvconnected to said bolsters. said gird grs willbq'tdl considerable degree, ecctire doors. when closed. occupy inclined planes between the under sides 'of the side g'iidersand the lower'edges of 'the slope-"sheets" ano the planes 'or v webs carried 'A by' the ends of L said doors close vlthe 'openings between the portions of theslope sheets.

It 'will be readily understoodpthat minor.

changes in the size,fo'rni and'construction'of thc various arts of my` improved car can be .made an substituted' for those liereui shown and described without departing from thespirit of my iuvention,.the scope of 'which is set fo'rtli in the appendedclaiuis.

I claiin:-

1. A hopper c'ar having sidesa'sloping end' sheets extendiu below' the plane occupied by the sides. tie s ace between the lower poi-tions of. said si cs and end sheets being open and unobstructed, a.door the main body portion-of which is arranged in u' plane below the sides and above the plane occupied by .the lower ends of the sloping end sheets and means carried by said door for closing the space between the ends of said door and the lower portions of the slopin end sheets..

2. A hopper car having si es,'slo ing end sheets extending below the sides, t e space between the lower portions' of said sides and end sheets being open and unobstructed, doors for closin the bottom ofthe car. the

. main body portions of which doors are arranged below the sides and above the lower portions of the sloping cmd sheets and means on said door for closing .the aces between the ends of said doors and t slower por- ;tions of the sloping end sheets.

3. A hopper carhavin sides, sloping end sheets extending below t ie sides, the space between the lower portions ofsnid `sides and end sheets being open and unobstructed, doors the main body portions of ywhich are arranged below the sides and above the lower portions of the sloping end sheets and spaced therefrom, and loadretaining means for closing the spaces between the ends of the sh doors and the sloping'end sheets.

4. A hopper car having sides, slopin endA sheets extending-a substantial distance low the sides'. the entire space between the lower portions 'of said sides and end sheets being open and unobstructed, and load-'retaining means closing the openings between the sides n r id the lower portions of the slopingend s eets.

structed.

6. In a hopper car. a pair of sloping end sheets. the lower portions of whic extend substantially below the sides of the car. the.

space between the lower portions of said end fanclunobstructed", 'and zload-retaining for'f n'ornially c l` f-.in t tlic`4 opening i -the lower.' ortions of said-sloping end sheets. ends of the bodies of thel doors and theedgei l sloping end s sheetsandthe sidesof the car being open means etween 'l'.f'In a opper fear; a load-carrying frame fomprising arpairofbolstfeis. a pair of side girders.' and 'slopin' end sheets supported -from vthe holsters,y t ie'lower ends o which vend sheetsl .extenda substantial distance below the side girders" andthe space'between the lower portionsof the sloping end sheets and side f girders being open and unobstructed. v

8. In a'hopper ical'. thc combination with a supporting fraintcoinprising a pair of holsters. a pair of side 'girders of sloping end-sheets positioned above the holsters and extendin a' substantial distance below the side gir ers the space between the lower portions. of said end sheets and side girders eing cpe'n and unobstructed, and load-retainin means between the lower portions of sai slo ing end sheets.

9. In a opper car, the combination with a supporting 'frame comprising a pair of boisters, a pair of side girders of sloping end sheets positioned above the holsters and extending belowthe'side girders. the space betweenI the lower portions of said end sheets and side girders. being open and unob- .=t.r'ucted,'loadretainin means between the lowery poitions of 'sai slopi end sheets, and wallsv supported b v the si e rders 10. In a hopper oar, a rectangu ar frame` eets arranged atthe ends of said frame, the lower portions of which sheets extend substantially below the plane occupied by the bottom of said frame` the space betweenthe lower portions of said end sheets and 'thefsiide members of t-lie frame beinfinopcn and unobstructed. and load-retainingmeans for normally closing the ning between the sides of the fraaie am the downwardly extending portions of the end sets. 1l. In shopper car of the class described. the combination with n'sup rting frame comprising apair of body olsters and a pair of hollow side. girdeis, of sloping end sheets supported bysaid body holsters, the lower portions of which end sheets project a substantial distance below the hollow side girders, -arid drop'doors hinged to the side I h f l d; girders and adapted to form the bottom of n a opper car. a pair o s oping en the car. 12. In s liUppercar, the combination with a supportiii frame comprising a pairpf holsters. ho low `sidegirders, the ends. of which rest upon the end portions of said holsters. ofsloping end sheets supported by said holsters. the lower portions of which end sheets extend a substantial distance below the'hollow. sidedgirdels, and drop doors hinged to: said si e and adapted to form the bottom of e oar.

iso

.s snpportn nie comprising 'trsnsv arranged between the-end portions ofsaid 'hollow I. Ins r csmeqiininstion with hollow side gir ers esch coni'nrisingebottom chord, e Ytop chordt web -plstes connecting ssidi chordsr and diaphragme arranged on the interior-o mid hollow girders of dro doors hingedtnlselower portions of ssi uid edeptedto torni the bottom of eer.A

16. Ins neppercu, s girdsre, e walls girders,

or the oer body and drop ooi-sm the lower portions of the ers, which doors when el tom of the csr.

'rde slo sheets forming inc gdr tht: csrpebody, the lower ends of yfiilth4 slo sheets extend below the side mule drop doors hinged to thelower portiolli of the hollow side girders, which doors when closedlformhthe bottom of da 18. ne oppercsr,spsiro oll0w si girders, side wells supported by side girders, slo sheets forming inclined ends fer. the csrdy the lower of which extend s substiintisl1` below the rti'iiixlle 'rders trsnsverse suppo gj iembexs positioned bones the slogalhcem the ends of which supporting in em rest upon the end portions of the side rders, und drop doors hinged to thelowerv portionsof the hollow side gli-d which' doors when closedlfornlthe bottom o the 19; n-s op rcsr,s u' si egirnen, side walls positioned oiissid sidegirder, slope sheets fox'min inclined end welll the csr body, the ower portions of which slope sheets extend b elow the side glrders, doors hinged to the side girders for the o 'ng in the bottom' 9i the cer, sn'- web p stes on the ends o! seid doors, which web pletes occupy positions immedistel sdjsoent to the lowei` edges of the inclined end wells of the csr body.

20. In 's hopper csr,V s psi r of side side wells supported said girders slo sheets formin inclin end wells -for t e csr body, the ower portions of which. end

psirof hoiiow apte ei-s, 4positioned on seid side; pe sheets foi-min 'inclined ends wells .tliel'ower H of the web plates, which out- 21. In s hopper, csr s pair of-bolsteis, pair ofs'ide. i'ders, the ends of winch rest upon. thefenlportionsof the holsters, side wells positionedfon the side gli-ders, trans- :sont t -d -d l g .o esiegirers sopeseeos f' inclined ends for the csr 'bod wlgope sheets rest upon the traiisverssll'ff disposedx su porting members, snd's'p'eir si" drop dcorsS-inged to the lower c1 'form the ottom of the s hopenciir, dessin' sine girdposition thereon, fssosthe sce between the" les .sind ivols ons oftheinclined'e which doors when closed f die of the Clit-limi n 'sid" doors for closing the sces between -the ends of said doors end e lower portions of the inclined end wells.

In s dumping car thecombinstion with lead carrying members formi side girders each comprising n base nieixilier, :i top ember snd transversel spaced spart plates1 disposed between ssi base and top members of drop doors hinged to the lower portions of seid sille yii'ders and adopted to combine in closin the space between seid side. gilrders nml orning s bottom for the iesr.

24. In e dumping csr withlosd csrrying members forming side each comprising e vbottoni channel s Z bsr end spsced epert lates connecting seid channel snd Z ber of rop doors hinged tothe lower po 'ons oi seid side girderssnd sdspted to coni ne in closing the space be tween seid side girders end orming s boefif'iw" 'th b um ingcer ecom inetion with *hollow side gders foriiiin losd members, of slo ing end sgeetmtbe lowes ers, end load by sid ers.

portions of the side girders end retaining;

werdl ro lates extend beneath the loweryes p'f epinclined end'wslls.

dis d supporting members on 9 ons oi the hollow side girders', which", ',szhep .nd unobstructed, amis 1;,

the combination portion of whic extend s snbdsntisl dit u dumpms m, hollow sidi grdsrs; .Sii

walls, which sloping end sheets form load carrying members andare supported from 'gil-ders.

27. In a dumping car, hollow sid-eV gil-ders `ff'rrming' load carrying members slope sheets supported from said' girders, the lower portions of which said slope sheets extend below said girders, and door suspending means 'supported from said girders.

28. In a dumping car, hollow side girders having a relatively broad base the space between said girders being'open and uno-bstructed, sloping end sheets, thelower portions of which extend substantially below the hollowsideI girders, and discharge opening doors suspended from said broad base, which doorsv combine to close the space between the girders and form a bottom for the car..

i 29; A car having side walls, said walls comprising double plate girders load retaining Walls bracketed to the top of said Y girders and drop doors hinged to the lower portions of said girders and combining to "close the `space' between said girders and when closed-to form 'a bottom for the car. dumping car having a side wall, the lower portion of said wall comprising transly'ersely Vspaced apart plates a top chord member and a" bottom' chord member connecting said plates and the upper portion of said wall consisting of asingle thickness of plate.

31. A dumping car having a hollow'side -wall of increasing thickness toward the bot-A tom thereof and comprising'a pair of spaced plates,V ai top chord connecting the upper portions'cf said' plates and a bottom chord walll adapted tosupport discharge opening doors. A

In' a dumping car, the combination of ing part of sa id g'irder and door supporting means carried by said chord. l y In testimony whereof I-hereunto affix my -a double plate girder, a bottom chord forinsignature in the presence of two witnesses,

this elerenth'day of April, 1912.

` l PAUL M. BEARD;

lllitness'es: y

Oscaxz Hoonnnno, v Ronnnr G. ELLrs. j 

